When in London
London is a vibrant city with plenty to see and do and, as the largest metropolis in Europe, anyone planning to make the most of their stay here should ensure they can travel around the city quickly and easily. Luckily London's transport system is surprisingly good, with tubes running from early in the morning until around midnight and an extensive network of bus routes serving the city 24 hours a day.
To keep travelling costs down, tourists who plan to use the transport system would be advised to purchase a travel card, available for a period of one, three or seven days. For a fixed price this offers unlimited travel on the entire transport system, which the not-so-intrepid traveller may soon realise is a fantastic offer when blisters take hold or the notorious drizzly British weather makes its appearance.
Just as New York has its Yellow Cabs, London also has its own iconic transport, namely the famous Black Cab. Travellers returning by car at night are advised to look out for the distinctive design of the traditional Hackney Carriage (although confusingly they are available in other colours than black) as they offer a safer trip home than unlicensed mini cabs.
The fabric of London offers plenty to do in its own right, with the added advantage that many of the city's best attractions are free to use. London is famed for its royal parks, which combined with a wealth of other commons, heaths and open spaces, make it one of the greenest cities in the world. A brief glance at the AtoZ reveals how much these parks dominate even the busiest areas of central London, with Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James Park all prominent in the centre of the city. Hyde Park is the biggest royal, with its own 350 acres expanded by Kensington Gardens, which borders on to its west side. The parks are popular with tourists and residents alike, with many Londoners turning them into their unofficial back garden for a spot of sunbathing or picnicking in the summer.
The River Thames is also worth investigating if you want to really get to know the fabric of the city, with Londoners famously loyal to its north and south sides. A number of pleasure cruises are available on the river, providing easy access to many of the city's best-known landmarks. Boats depart from Westminster Pier, Waterloo Millennium Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier.
Entry to many museums and galleries is free, a welcome reprieve in a city which can be notoriously expensive to go out in. Some of the best known include the recently refurbished Tate Modern on the south bank, boasting a fantastic collection of modern art. The Tate Britain is also well worth investigating if the rain makes an appearance or the coppers run low, while the host of museums gathered in South Kensington provide a welcome cultural distraction.
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Introduction
